Improved remote programming using display screen

Abstract

A technique for pre-programming a reproduction machine for a plurality of complex jobs involving a variety of machine features and requirements at a computer console remote from the reproduction machine operator console and touch sensitive screen display. In particular, a remote computer console compatible with the reproduction machine control, manifests a simulation of a plurality of pre-programming slots and machine features for each slot that simulate a plurality of features and subfeatures of job requirements for the machine. The plurality of selected features for each pre-programmed job slot are automatically stored in the selected pre-programming slots on a removable media such as a floppy disk. The floppy disk can be inserted into the reproduction machine to automatically pre-program the machine for a plurality of discrete job runs without any additional operator initiative.

We claim: 
     
       1. In an image processing apparatus having image processing means for forming an image; means for displaying information relating to image formations; a memory medium capable of storing a plurality of programs for controlling the image processing means, each of the programs being a discrete job configuration in order that the apparatus produce production runs in accordance with a selected one of the job configurations, the memory medium being removably included in said image processing apparatus; the method of preprogramming the image processing apparatus comprising the steps of: loading said memory medium into a device remote from said image processing apparatus, the remote device having a programmer the remote device including a screen having a display of selections for programming said plurality of discrete job configurations of said machine;   programming the memory medium with the programmer to store said discrete job configurations;   removing the memory medium from the remote device and loading the memory medium into the image processing apparatus; and   selecting a desired one of said stored job configurations to configure the machine in accordance with the selected configuration.   
     
     
       2. In an image processing apparatus having image processing means for forming an image; means for displaying information relating to image formations; a memory medium for storing a plurality of programs for controlling the image processing means, each of the programs being a discrete job configuration in order that the apparatus produce production runs in accordance with a selected one of the job configurations, the memory medium being removably included in said image processing apparatus; the method of preprogramming the image processing apparatus comprising the steps of: loading said memory medium into a computer remote from said image processing apparatus, the computer having a programmer.   programming the memory medium with the programmer to store said discrete job configurations;   removing the memory medium from the computer and loading the memory medium into the image processing apparatus; and   selecting a desired one of said stored job configurations to configure the machine in accordance with the selected configuration.   
     
     
       3. The method of claim 2 wherein the computer includes a screen having a display of selections for programming said plurality of discrete job configurations of said machine. 
     
     
       4. The method of claim 2 including the step of altering selected ones of said plurality of programs while the image processing apparatus is in a production run. 
     
     
       5. The device of claim 2 wherein the computer includes a screen having a touch responsive means to enable programming selections touched to be identified on said screen simulating a card file having plural primary file cards, each of said primary file cards when opened displaying a relatively smaller second card file with plural secondary file cards and adjacent work area, each of said secondary file cards when opened displaying discrete first level program touch selections for programming different machine features, each of said primary and secondary file cards having a projecting touch tab for opening said file cards, said touch tabs having data to identify the file card subject matter, including the steps of: touching selected tabs to open a selected one of each of said primary and secondary file cards to display first level program touch selections associated with said selected primary and secondary file cards; and   touching one of said first level program selections displaying second level touch program selections in said work area for use in programming said machine.   
     
     
       6. In an image processing apparatus having image processing means for forming an image; means for displaying information relating to image formations; a memory medium for storing a plurality of programs for controlling the image processing means, each of the programs being a discrete job configuration in order that the apparatus produce production runs in accordance with a selected one of the job configurations, the memory medium being removably included in said image processing apparatus; the method of preprogramming the image processing apparatus comprising the steps of: loading said memory medium into a computer remote from said image processing apparatus, the computer having a programmer, the computer including a screen having a touch responsive means to enable programming selections touched to be identified on said screen simulating a card file having plural primary file cards, each of said primary file cards when opened displaying a relatively smaller second card file with plural secondary file cards and adjacent work area, each of said secondary file cards when opened displaying discrete first level program touch selections for programming different machine features, each of said primary and secondary file cards having a projecting touch tab for opening said file cards, said touch tabs having data to identify the file card subject matter;   programming the memory medium with the programmer to store said discrete job configurations;   removing the memory medium from the computer and loading the memory medium into the image processing apparatus;   selecting a desired one of said stored job configurations to configure the machine in accordance with the selected configuration including the steps of:   touching selected tabs to open a selected one of each of said primary and secondary file cards to display first level program touch selections associated with said selected primary and secondary file cards, and   touching one of said first level program selections displaying second level touch program selections in said work area for use in programming said machine.   
     
     
       7. In a reproduction machine having plural interactive sub-systems cooperable with one another to produce copies from document originals, the combination of: remote means for displaying programming selections for pre-programming a plurality of discrete job runs for said machine;   a memory insertable in said machine;   touch responsive means incorporated in said remote means to enable programming selections touched to be stored in said memory, the memory storing the plurality of pre-programmed job runs; and   means incorporated in said machine to enable selected job runs from said memory to be completed.   
     
     
       8. A process for programming a reproduction machine at a remote location which includes a removable memory means and a touch sensitive CRT screen simulating a first card file with plural file folders, each file folder when opened displaying for touch access a second relatively smaller card file with plural file cards together with an adjacent work area; each of said file folders and file cards having an identifying touch tab;   each of said file cards when opened displaying a plurality of first level program touch selections which when opened display in said work area a job programming file with plural second level program touch selections for programming said machine to run a plurality of jobs, comprising the steps of:   a) touching a selected file folder tab to open the file folder associated with said tab and display the second card file associated with said file folder on said screen;   b) touching a selected file card tab displayed on said screen to open the file card associated with said tab and display the first level program touch selections and work area associated with said card file;   c) touching a selected first level program touch selection to display in said work area the second level program touch selections associated with said selected first level program touch selection;   d) touching selected ones of the second level program touch selections in said work area to provide program input on the removable memory means for said machine, and   e) loading the memory means into the reproduction machine to run a selected sequence of jobs.   
     
     
       9. A process for programming a reproduction machine at a remote location including a programmer, a removable memory, and a screen simulating job requirements for a plurality of jobs, comprising the steps of: a) activating selected job requirements simulated on said screen for a first job run;   b) activating selected job requirements simulated on said screen for a second job run;   c) storing said selected job requirements on said removable memory means;   d) removing said memory means from the remote location; and   e) loading the memory means into the reproduction machine to run a selected sequence of jobs.   
     
     
       10. The process according to claim 9 wherein the memory means is a disk memory including the step of loading the disk memory in a disk drive incorporated in the reproduction machine.